After reading Nimona last year, I was excited to try Lumberjanes and I was NOT disappointed. Click here to see what I thought! Friendship to the max!
Nimona
End-of-the-Year Survey – 2015
I enjoy filling out surveys, and I (obviously) love books, so this end-of-the-year survey hosted by Jamie (Perpetual Page Turner) is right up my alley! Read on for my answers :)
Number Of Books You Read: 111 + about 10 manuscripts during my internship (Jan-April)
Number of Re-Reads: 18
Genre You Read The Most From: probably urban fantasy (YA is NOT a category!)
1. Best Book You Read In 2015?
It’s a cross between Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (Becky Albertali) and Every Word (Ellie Marney).
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
The Bane Chronicles. I mean, I wasn’t really surprised because I haven’t liked the last four Cassandra Clare books I’ve read, but Magnus was always my favourite character.
3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
When Everything Feels Like the Movies (Raziel Reid) – it got a lot of buzz when it was chosen as one of the finalists for Canada Reads, and that in itself was surprising (in a good way!).
4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?
I’m going to say Every Breath a) because I recommend it on pretty much a monthly basis (technically I read it in 2014, but it was literally the last book I read – I finished it on December 31!) and b) my sister read it and become just as obsessed!
5. Best series you started in 2015? Best Sequel of 2015? Best Series Ender of 2015?
Best series started: Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Laini Taylor)
Best sequel: Every Word (Ellie Marney)
Best series ender: The Wondrous and the Wicked (Page Morgan)
6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2015?
Susin Nielsen. I read literally all her books (including one that’s not even published yet!) this year.
7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
Unbearable Lightness – Portia de Rossi
8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
Every Move (Ellie Marney). I could not move while reading it.
9. Book You Read In 2015 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
Cinder (Marissa Meyer) because I haven’t picked up the rest of the series yet, and I’ll probably have to re-read it before I continue.
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2015?
The Singular and Extraordinary Tale of Mirror and Goliath – Ishbelle Bee
11. Most memorable character of 2015?
Nimona – Noelle Stevenson
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2015?
The Book Thief (Markus Zusack) is gorgeous, but it was a re-read. “New” book that was beautifully written: Magonia (Maria Dahvana Headley)
13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2015?
The Universe Versus Alex Woods – Gavin Extence.
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2015 to finally read?
Soulless – Gail Carriger. It has so many things I love in it!
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2015?
I have seen the aftermath of death, the incredible mechanism of the body laid bare, and I know now that each person is a kind of miracle. A spark nestles like a bird inside our chests, so deep that we can’t find where it lives, but it is everything. It’s what makes us dream and think and feel and laugh and sing. And it is a mystery, and it is mundane, and, above all, it is fragile. Any moment could be our last. – Rachel Watts, Every Word
16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2015?
The shortest (not including picture books or comics) was The Little Prince with 98 pages and the longest was the Complete Blooming Goddess Trilogy (Tallulah Darling) with 1080 pages total (it was all one ebook, so if I was counting individual books, it would be Outlander with 850 pages).
17. Book That Shocked You The Most
The Hollow Boy – Jonathan Stroud. THAT ENDING. I NEED THE NEXT ONE LIKE NOW.
18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)
Wattscroft forever!!! Ellie Marney is in charge of writing all the kissing scenes forever.
19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
Flavia and Dogger from Alan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce series.
20. Favorite Book You Read in 2015 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
Why We Broke Up – Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket!)
21. Best Book You Read In 2015That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:
My sister told me repeatedly to read a Gail Carriger novel and I’m SO GLAD I read Soulless (and the sequel, Changeless!).
22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2015?
Technically he’s from the end of 2014, but who doesn’t love James Mycroft??
23. Best 2015 debut you read?
Mad Miss Mimic – Sarah Henstra
24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
Daughter of Smoke and Bone – Laini Taylor
25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
Nimona – Noelle Stevenson
26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2015?
I flat out sobbed at the end of The Wondrous and the Wicked (Page Morgan).
27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
Not published in 2015, but I really enjoyed Knightly and Son – Rohan Gavin
28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?
In terms of being sad, I’d say Why We Broke Up, but if you’re talking about one that beat me down until I finished it, I’d say Neil Gaiman’s American Gods.
29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2015?
Lair of Dreams – Libba Bray
30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
Anne & Henry – Dawn Ius. I had such high hopes for it because it had such a great concept, but the characters infuriated me.
1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2015?
This year was the first year I really paid attention to book blogs and really worked on my own reviews. Some of my favourite blogs include: Pop! Goes the Reader, The Broke and the Bookish, A Reader of Fictions, Snuggly Oranges, Cuddlebuggery, and, of course Perpetual Page Turner, plus a whole lot more! I also have to shout out to all the blogs I follow/who follow me here :)
2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2015?
Probably my Simon vs review or my extensive review for Every Breath/Every Word.
3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?
The post with the most comments was my Top Ten Books of 2015 from a few weeks ago.
4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
I helped out at OLA which was a really interesting experience, but I also got to meet Alan Bradley at Random House which was really cool (he’s such an adorable old man!).
5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2015?
Interning at Tundra was definitely a highlight and I got to work on their blog, which was lots of fun!
6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?
Finding time to write the reviews in between writing for Mind the Gap/idobi!
7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
Every Word blog tour (most views on one particular day); overall, it was my Blurryface track-by-track review (in terms of views) and top 10 books of 2015 (in terms of comments).
8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
I’m quite proud of my UK in YA TTT!
9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
Apart from all the blogs I mentioned earlier, I’ve also really enjoyed Book Riot and the read-iculously cheap Book Outlet.
10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
I set 100 books as my Goodreads challenge and surpassed that goal!
1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2015 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2016?
Good Omens (Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett) is going to be the first book I read in 2016.
2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2016 (non-debut)?
I don’t even know if it will come out in 2016, but I’m salivating for the next Lockwood and Co (Jonathan Stroud) book.
3. 2016 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
The Love That Split The World – Emily Henry. It’s been getting a lot of hype and it was the first book to come to mind.
4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2016?
I’m really hoping that Every Move will be published in North America next year so I can complete my collection!
5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2016?
I’m setting a goal for 120 books, plus one of my resolutions is to read more classics. And my sister and I (and possibly our nine year old niece) are going to do a full Harry Potter re-read which is really exciting.
6. A 2016 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:
The two 2016 books I’ve read so far have been The Serpent King (Jeff Zentner) and Vikki VanSickle’s If I Had a Gryphon (illustrated by Cale Atkinson), both of which I recommend (and will have reviews up in the next couple of months!).
Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Best Books I Read In 2015
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
This week’s prompt is Top Ten Best Books I Read In 2015. I’ve narrowed it down to the best books I’ve read this year that were released in 2015 (I read some good ones that are at least a year old!).
Each one is linked to my review (the first three are in order).
- Every Word – Ellie Marney
- The Hollow Boy – Jonathan Stroud
- The Wondrous and the Wicked – Page Morgan
- Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda – Becky Albertali
- Nimona – Noelle Stevenson
- Mad Miss Mimic – Sarah Henstra
- The Singular and Extraordinary Tale of Mirror and Goliath / The Contrary Tale of the Butterfly Girl – Ishbelle Bee
- Dumplin’ – Julie Murphy
- Library of Souls – Ransom Riggs
- Alice Takes Back Wonderland – David D. Hammons
BONUS
Here are another five books that I rated 5 interrobangs that weren’t released in 2015 (and that don’t include any re-reads!):
- Daughter of Smoke and Bone – Laini Taylor (review coming soon!)
- The Universe Versus Alex Woods – Gavin Extence
- The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen – Susin Nielsen
- Soulless – Gail Carriger
- Outlander – Diana Gabaldon
What were your top ten books this year?
Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Celebrate Diversity/Diverse Characters
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
This week’s prompt is Ten Books That Celebrate Diversity/Diverse Characters. I went with five because I honestly couldn’t think of ten! Obviously I need to expand my reading pool. Of course, there have also been books with diverse characters that I didn’t like, so I didn’t include those (I don’t care if Zoey’s part Cherokee or whatever, I think the House of Night books are awful and they do not deserve a place on this list).
1) Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda – Becky Albertali
One of my favourite books of 2015, Simon is not-yet-out-of-the-closet but someone may be trying to blackmail him. I adored Simon – add this to your list right now if you haven’t already!
2) Nimona – Noelle Stevenson
Not only is Nimona herself not your typical heroine, but the hint of a relationship between Blackheart and Goldenloin is precious.
3) When Everything Feels Like the Movies – Raziel Reid
While this book may not be to everyone’s taste, I think it’s an important read and I love that it was part of Canada Reads because it brought LGBTQ issues (and YA novels!) into mainstream media for at least a little while.
4) Every Breath – Ellie Marney
Am I just obsessed with Every Breath? Maybe. But the secondary characters are diverse and fleshed out, not just stereotypes thrown in to mix things up (Mai is Vietnamese, Gus is Sudanese).
5) The Rearranged Life – Annika Sharma
I wasn’t in the right mood for this book when I originally read it, but I like that the protagonist was from a traditional Indian family. A interesting look at a culture that’s so very different from your typical “North American” household.
Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I’ve Read So Far In 2015
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
This week’s prompt is Top Ten Books I’ve Read So Far In 2015. I’ve read a lot of great books so far this year, so it was hard to pick 10, but here we go (as always, it’s not in any particular order). Most are linked to my reviews, but the Ellie Marney ones link to Goodreads.
1) Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda – Becky Albertali
2) Nimona – Noelle Stevenson
3) The Lovely and the Lost – Page Morgan
4) The Wondrous and the Wicked – Page Morgan
5) Every Word – Ellie Marney
6) Every Move – Ellie Marney
7) Mad Miss Mimic – Sarah Henstra
8) The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches – Alan Bradley
9) The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen – Susin Nielsen
10) The Little Prince – Antoine de St-Euxpéry
What are some of your favourite books that you’ve read in 2015 (so far)?
Fiction Friday Round-Up – May 22nd, 2015
Here are some books I’ve been reading/finishing over the past week or so. Please click the links for full reviews!
- The Blooming Goddess Trilogy – Tellulah Darling: “I really enjoyed this series: it was fluffy at times but still had a strong plot. The writing was funny and compelling, and if you like contemporary takes on Greek mythology, you’ll love Sophie’s world.”
- Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda – Becky Albertali: “I loved this book. It’s a character-driven novel, so the plot is relatively simple, but in this case, it worked because I enjoyed getting to know Simon and the world around him.”
- The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches – Alan Bradley: “Flavia’s personal journey is what makes this book my favourite, and I can’t wait to get started on her next adventure.”
This week, I attended the book launch for Sarah Henstra’s fabulous debut, Mad Miss Mimic. Read my recap here!
Because it was #IreadYA week, you can see some of the YA books that I’m excited about here!
What have you read recently?
Until next week, happy reading!
#IreadYA 2015
It’s that glorious time of year again – it’s #IReadYA week! A campaign brought to us by Scholastic’s This is Teen, #IReadYA week is all about celebrating those of us who read – and love – young adult books.
Last year, I broke down some of my favourite authors/series, this year I decided I would talk about some of the more recent YA adventures I’ve been on. There are actually different discussion topics for each day posted on the Scholastic website, but I was not paying attention, so I’m doing things my own way!
MY TWO NEW FAVOURITE TRILOGIES
I talk about these books so much on my blog, you probably already know what I’m going to say:
Every series – Ellie Marney
One word: Mycroft. For him alone, you should read these books. Also Watts, who is an incredibly strong female protagonist (she grew up on a farm, solves crimes, and plays roller derby!). Their chemistry is redonk, and the mysteries are so well written. Wattscroft forever!
The Dispossessed series – Page Morgan
Sexy, brooding gargoyles and late 1800’s Paris. What more could you ask for? Notable for being one of the only series where I was actually perplexed re: the outcome of the love triangle (I’m so happy with the way it turned out, but I was legitimately torn for a while there i.e. during the entire second book).
OUTSTANDING DEBUT
Mad Miss Mimic – Sarah Henstra
I love me a good strong Victorian heroine. This was well written, well researched, and, well, I loved it. I also attended the launch yesterday, which was super cute and so my style (tea sandwiches! Lots of sweet treats! Fun cocktails!).
DISCUSSION STARTER
When Everything Feels Like the Movies – Raziel Reid
This has been making waves in the Canadian literary scene because stuffy adults don’t think this much attention should be paid to something so “graphic”, but the message at the end is so important, and if it gets the LGBTQ conversation going, then it should win EVERY AWARD.
GORGEOUS COVER, GORGEOUS PROSE
Magonia – Maria Dahvana Headley
I didn’t review this one even though I read an ARC months ago (it was before I was actively reviewing ARCs), but the Neil Gaiman-esque prose is lovely, the cover is magnificent, and the story was unique and compelling.
GRAPHIC NOVEL
Nimona – Noelle Stevenson
Granted, I’m pretty obsessed with Nimona right now, but talk about strong female protagonists! From her bold hairstyles to her butt-kicking fighting technique (“I’M A SHARK”), Nimona is a pretty great role model – even if she is technically a villain.
UNRELIABLE HEROINES
We Were Liars – E. Lockhart
I wasn’t as impressed with this book as everyone else seemed to be (it got so many glowing reviews), but Cady’s narrative keeps you guessing, even when you think you’ve figured it out (or, like me, you accidentally spoiled the ending for yourself).
YA FROM A MOSTLY MG AUTHOR
Why We Broke Up – Daniel Handler
While it did tend to ramble on for a while, Min’s account of her intense and turbulent relationship with Ed can be a bit of a tearjerker. It’s also a beautifully designed book, so for that alone, I’d recommend it.
ON MY TBR
Here are 2 books on my “TO BE READ” list that I’m really excited for:
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda – Becky Albertali
I read the first page and was hooked in an instant, so you know it’s going to be a great read. Plus it’s been getting excellent buzz from bloggers that I tend to agree with, so I’m fairly certain I’ll enjoy it.
Also a good contender for a “discussion starter”, from what I’ve heard.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone – Laini Taylor
I’ve wanted to read this for a while (I even own a copy), but I haven’t gotten around to it yet. Pretty covers, angels, demons – sounds amazing.
What are some of your favourite YA books (in general, or that you’ve read recently)?
Fiction Friday Round-Up – May 15th, 2015
Here are some books I finished over the past week and a bit (I’m currently unemployed, so I’ve had time to read). As always, please click the link for a full review!
- Speaking From Among the Bones – Alan Bradley: “Part of this book felt like filler, but since spending any amount of time with Flavia is always a delight, it wasn’t a chore to read. It just wasn’t very memorable.”
- A Great and Terrible Beauty (re-read) – Libba Bray: “I was still hooked by the first few paragraphs, the writing was just as evocative as I remembered, and there were even a couple of creepy moments that sent a small shiver up my spine.”
- The Rearranged Life (ARC) – Annika Sharma: “This book read like a cross between Bend it Like Beckham and My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and it was definitely interesting to read the descriptions and think about the differences between cultures…a cute summer read.” *includes a giveaway!**
- Endless Nights – Neil Gaiman: “This is both a good and a bad way to be introduced to the world of the Sandman. On the one hand, you get a story starring each Endless sibling, which gives you an idea about them […] On the other hand […], I had no idea what to expect.”
- Nimona – Noelle Stevenson: “I highly recommend this one for anyone looking for a strong, badass female villain/shapeshifter […] whose default form is a “pudgy” girl.”
And I’m also helping to host a giveaway!
- Spelled giveaway!!
Last week, I read a new adult ARC and was sorely disappointed:
- Sing for Me – Gracie Madison: “I have complicated feelings about this book. It wasn’t bad per se, I just didn’t really enjoy it. I read the whole thing, though admittedly I started skimming at about 30%.”
Also, I got an Indigo giftcard so I bought some books I’ve been meaning to buy for a while, and it’s all terribly exciting.
Obviously, I’ve already finished Nimona, but I’ll have reviews for the other three at some point, hopefully this month or next.
What have you read this week?
Nimona – Noelle Stevenson
Nimona – Noelle Stevenson
Nemeses! Dragons! Science! Symbolism! All these and more await in this brilliantly subversive, sharply irreverent epic from Noelle Stevenson. Featuring an exclusive epilogue not seen in the web comic, along with bonus conceptual sketches and revised pages throughout, this gorgeous full-color graphic novel is perfect for the legions of fans of the web comic and is sure to win Noelle many new ones.
Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren’t the heroes everyone thinks they are.
But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona’s powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit.
I might not read a lot of comic books, but I’ve been hearing a lot of great things about Nimona so I decided to pick it up.
SO GLAD I DID.
First of all, the animation is adorable. It’s fairly simple, but it’s effective. Apparently you can spot random superheros/villains in the background of some panels, but I’ll admit that I was too focused on Nimona herself to pay attention to the small details (I’ll look for those “Easter eggs” the next time I read it).
I’m a huge Adventure Time fan, and reading Nimona felt like reading an Adventure Time comic book (I have a small collection, because man, they’re addictive). Nimona is a complex girl and, in my mind, a combination of some of AT‘s strongest female characters: she’s as tough as Fionna, as clever as Princess Bubblegum, as fiery (literally and figuratively) as Flame Princess, as sassy as Lumpy Space Princess, and as badass-with-a-soft-side as my personal favourite, Marceline the Vampire Queen.
She doesn’t look so badass here, but trust me, she is.
Nimona made me laugh out loud, especially whenever she turned into a shark (“I’M A SHARK”), but there were moments where, instead of trying to offer some sort of complicated explanation, she dismissed something by saying “it’s magic”, or “it’s science”, and I loved it. Sometimes you don’t need an explanation for something, as long as it makes sense within the story’s world.
The relationship between Blackheart and Goldenloin (if that’s not the best name for a hero, I don’t know what is), is complicated but arguably realistic (realistic within their world, I mean). And the development of Blackheart and Nimona’s relationship was just the cutest thing.
I highly recommend this one for anyone looking for a strong, badass female villain/shapeshifter (did I mention her shapeshifting is amazing? Because it is) whose default form is a “pudgy” girl. Nimona is an excellent read, and I am definitely going to be re-reading it – after I lend it to everyone I know.
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